IPE: Can you walk us through how the demands on footwear in food processing differ from other industries, and why it is essential to choose the right boot from day one?

CC: The food processing industry requires solutions for many different challenges, comfort for long days standing, slip protection walking on  wet floors, slip protection for food debris and parts, protection for animal fats and acids, protection from temperature changes from the cook room the freezer, various colours to prevent cross contamination, and a boot tough enough to stand up to daily pressure washer and sanitation of the boots, you need one boot that conquer all that to make sure the workforce gets home safe at the end of the day. The Dunlop FoodPRO was engineered to stand up to all of these challenges to empower the end-user to get the job done safely. 

IPE: In your view, what are the most common mistakes companies make when choosing safety boots for food processing?

CC: Picking a boot based solely on price may be a short-term savings, but will cost more in the long run, with uncomfortable employees, increased usage costs, and an increased injury risk. You should always factor the total cost of ownership of your PPE, how many pairs do you need per year, and waste savings with lower usage.

Also, we have seen that when companies invest better PPE like the Dunlop FoodPRO, they are seeing an increase in morale and culture as well as a decrease in turnover. The cost savings here will more than make up for the usually small price difference. 

IPE: With such a wide range of safety footwear options available, what should manufacturers and procurement teams focus on when it comes to boots for food manufacturing?

CC:  Three areas: safety, comfort and sustainability.   

IPE: Slips and trips remain one of the biggest causes of workplace accidents. What practical steps can supervisors take to ensure slip-resistant footwear delivers?

CC: It is best to start with SR certified products, and then to do a wear trial to make sure the boot and the outsole pattern are right for your environment, application, and exposure, and is comfortable to wear all day. Also, as more and more food companies adopt sustainability programs, finding a sustainability surprise in your footwear program – like how switching to the Dunlop FoodPRO can help lower your carbon footprint – is an added bonus that will help your company for long term. 

IPE: In food-processing settings, hygiene is paramount. What footwear materials, design features or maintenance routines best support hygiene without compromising slip performance?

CC: We could not agree more, that is why our FoodPRO made from our proprietary material Purofort is ideal for the Food processing industry. First, Purofort is a closed cell formula with a smooth design to minimize contaminants on the boot and make for easy cleaning. Purofort is also very durable and cut resistant to stand up to the daily challenges. We also incorporate anti-bacterial liners designed to inhibit the growth of microbes, which helps maintain a higher level of hygiene inside the boot. By minimising bacteria buildup, these liners reduce odors, extend the usable life of the footwear, and contribute to overall foot health—especially in demanding work environments. And lastly by offering various colours we help prevent cross contamination reducing the risk of recalls.  

IPE: What role does worker comfort and fit play in ensuring PPE is worn correctly throughout long shifts, especially in cold or wet zones?

CC: Comfort is king in food processing. You need a boot to keep you comfortable standing for 8-10 hours a day, flexible to move with you in every step, while keeping your feet warm when it is cool and cool when it is warm. That is where our Purofort material comes in with its flexible and lightweight technology to increase comfort all day long.

IPE: When budgets are tight, what advice would you give to companies tempted to go for cheaper boots and how do you make the case for quality over short-term savings?

CC: Dunlop Purofort outlasts and outperforms the competition. By investing in higher quality products like the FoodPRO, employers can helps reduce missed workdays due to injuries, saving up to $70,000 per slip, trip, or fall incident. Plus, choosing the right footwear helps decrease turnover by up to 450%, meaning fewer costs associated with the new hiring process. Dunlop boots also last up to a full year – nearly 4 times longer than pvc and 2.5 times longer than rubber boots, meaning they don’t have to be replaced as often. 

If you’d like to hear more from Colin on how to select the right safety footwear for food processing environments, why not check out our recent webinar on this topic here: https://wbmwebinars.com/sustainable-safety-footwear/register

Colin Clark is chief marketing and innovation officer at Dunlop

For more information: 

dunlopboots-uk.com

Tel: 01452 727343